Ironclad is a new Braveheart-esque period battlefest directed by Jonathon English, who isn’t to be confused with Johnny English, a 2003 James Bond parody starring Rowan Atkinson. This English directed the 2006 Minotaur, which I never saw, but is now sorta notable for starring Tom Hardy. This I can only presume will be the fate of Ironclad, which looks incredibly blah but has a pretty bitchin’ cast: Charles Dance, Jason Flemyng, Paul Giamatti, Brian Cox, Derek Jacobi, Mackenzie Crook, plus hottie Kate Mara and Rome‘s James Purefoy, who I have completely soured on as a leading man after suffering through Solomon Kane.

The film is set in the 13th-century, at a time when the rebel barons of England have forced the dickish King John (Giamatti) to put his royal seal to the Magna Carta, the seminal document that upheld the rights of free men (ie, other rich fuckers). But soon the King reneged on his word and assembled a mercenary army with the intention of bringing the barons and the country back under his tyrannical rule. Barring his way stands Rochester castle. Swords fights and speeches ensue.

Unfortunately I couldn’t get the new trailer to embed, so hop over to Deadline to see it.

Youtube has the older and frankly much better trailer, that makes the film seem at least entertaining. That is this one: